Lawn Archives - Page 2 of 3

Japanese Beetles

Found primarily in the eastern United States, this pest eats almost everything except vegetables. The C-shaped grubs whitish, up to 1-inch-long, with brown heads and three pairs of legs feed heavily on plant roots; lawns are especially likely to be attacked. When the 1/2 inch long, metallic green beetles with coppery wing covers emerge, they … Read more

Grubs

White grubs feed on the roots of grasses, so lawns will show wilting and browning of irregular shaped areas. Certainly there could be many reasons for lawns browning, especially in late summer when most grub damage occurs. Always check the root zone of affected areas for the white, c-shaped grubs. Carefully pull back the sod … Read more

Grasshoppers

Also called locusts, the dozens of grasshopper species differ in size, color, and markings- but all flourish in areas with long, hot, dry summers. Target: All plants, especially grasses and weeds. Damage: If the insects descend in hordes, they’ll eat plants to the ground, but individual grasshoppers are a threat only to young plants. Life … Read more

Earwigs

Contrary to the old wives’ tale, these nocturnal, 3/4 inch long, reddish brown insects don’t crawl into human ears and bore into the brain with their mean looking pincers. Earwigs do nibble on plants though-but they usually do more good than harm, since they eat decaying matter and other insects. Due to their habit of … Read more

Cutworms

So named because they chew seedlings off at ground level, cutworms are the larvae of various moths. Up to 2 inches long and of diverse color, the hairless caterpillars feed at night; during the day, they can be found underground or beneath debris near a food source, curled up in a ‘C’ shape. Target: Young … Read more

Cucumber Beetles

The various species of these 1/4 inch long beetles are yellowish green, with black spots or stripes. The slim, white larvae, about 1/2 inch long, are dark at both ends. Larvae feed on roots; adults-the more destructive stage-chew aboveground plant parts. Target: Roots of corn, other grasses, legumes (larvae); many vegetables, especially cucurbits, and flowers … Read more

Crickets

Crickets, are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets. They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets. They tend to be nocturnal and are often confused with grasshoppers because they have a similar body structure including jumping hind legs. Crickets are … Read more

Crane Flies

Crane flies, though similar in appearance to a giant mosquito, are not a type of mosquito and do not bite. They are actually classified as a family of flies called Tipulidae. Crane flies are very slender, with long and fragile legs that break off easily. Adult common crane flies usually have two generations; one that … Read more

Chinch Bugs

This true bug sucks sap from grasses; it’s attracted to poorly grown lawns. Chinch bugs start out pinhead-size and bright red, with a white band across the back; they darken as they mature, eventually becoming black, ⅛ inch long bugs with white wings. Don’t confuse this pest with its natural enemy, the predaceous big-eyed bug: … Read more

Billbugs

Several billbug species are found in lawns, they all have long, and forward-pointing snout gives this dark, slow-moving, ½ inch long weevil its name. The real pests, though, are the fat, legless grubs. About the same size as the adult beetles, they’re white with brown heads. Billbugs are a problem primarily on the East Coast … Read more